The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2018, has named Durham University the fifth best university in the UK.

With more than 84% of graduates in professional jobs and 95.9% completing their course, the University was praised for the quality of its research and its plans for future growth.

But the ranking is a fall from last year, when the guide named Durham the fourth best in the country.

Durham’s vice chancellor, Professor Stuart Corbridge, said: “It’s pleasing to see that we continue to be very highly ranked in this league table, which uses a range of indicators of success. To be ranked in the top five universities in the UK reflects the sustained commitment we have to delivering excellence across education, research and the wider student experience.”

With six applications for every place and a median starting salary of £25,000 for graduates, Durham University accepts the third-highest proportion of students from private schools in the country, behind only Oxford and St Andrews.

Sunderland University in Sunderland City Centre (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

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A spokesperson said: “It’s pleasing to see the University of Sunderland recognised as the most inclusive in the country and that our investment in excellent teaching, facilities and in the experience and employability of our students and graduates is impacting on our league table position.

“We are proud of our 25-year record of raising aspirations and promoting social inclusion across the region, which is giving people with talent have the life-changing opportunity to reach their full potential, no matter what their background or personal circumstances.”

Newcastle University

Coming in at 26th in the national table, Newcastle University also garnered praise from the guide’s authors.

Despite the drop from 22nd place last year, the Times panel noted that the University has been lauded for its “exceptional” support for students, and was the only institution to gain a ‘gold’ rating in the new Government Teaching Excellence Framework.

In 2017, Times experts say Newcastle received one of the biggest boosts to applications in the country. The 6.3% increase, it says, is partly due to popular new degrees in pharmacy, and sport and exercise science, but demand has been rising for the last 10 years.

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Meanwhile, Northumbria University dropped one place, down to 66th in the country. The guide noted that the University has recently seen a huge rise in applications from EU students, which increased by 50% last year.